Oladimeji Adisa, Come To Nigeria Publisher Bags International POLPA Award-Nigeria’s Oladimeji Adisa, The Publisher of Nigeria’s Tourism Magazine, Come to Nigeria has been honoured for community service and self effort community activities in the United Kingdom.

He has been awarded the Anglo-American Points of Light programme in America Award( POLPA).

The award message was communicated to him by the British Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron Mr Oladimeji, who lives in Liverpool has been involved in the United Kingdom in many activities which have empowered school children and adults in and around his communities where he lived since arriving United Kingdom about 23 years ago.

He is one of the pioneers of school workshops scheme on African arts and culture and has visited more than 1000 centres across the United Kingdom where he has taught and educated the younger generations of children about the multi-facet African Arts and culture.

Over 10,000 young and old people of British background has gained immensely from his wealth of African Arts and culture experience.

He has visited more than 500 primary and secondary schools across UK to carry out workshops and teach diverse people of multi-cultural background about the rich heritage of African culture, most especially the virile Nigerian culture. Several dignitaries across the World have won the Award which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in America.

It was originally established by President George H W Bush, and has since its inception has recognised over 5,000 individuals. The award enkoys the full support of President Barack Obama. The current edition in the United Kingdom is an extension of the American version while Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to formalise the UK Version soon.

The winners of the award discovered through a network of volunteers who scan through the national data to appoint and nominate recipients. Among those that carry out the recipients choices are the National Citizen Service graduates and members of the Step up to Serve coalition. Nominations are also extended to the general public who can communicate directly existing to the Prime Minister. David Cameron expressed his delight at the award congratulation Mr Adisa and urging him to continue to impact more on humanity and communities.

He emphasized that Groups and organisations that are demonstrating the Big Society in their work or activities will continue to be recognised by the Prime Minister through the Big Society awards.

He said: We should do more as a country to recognise volunteering. In America they have Points of Light. President George H W Bush spoke about 1,000 Points of Light shining out in difficult times. Britain is going to have its own Points of Light scheme.

Prime Minister David Cameron communicated the award to him officially last week while he was sent an specially delivered letter about the award. Oladimeji Adisa hails from Ilobu, in Osun State of Nigeria.

He established a cultural Foundation in 1992 called Osun Arts Foundation, a charity Foundation through which he educates schools and colleges, teaching people about the rich heritage of African culture most especially Nigerian culture. Oladimeji set up the foundation in the 1990s in his local area as he felt there was a lack of organisations that promoted African culture, most especially Nigerian culture and he wished to address this issue.

As the co-ordinator and artistic director he is a cornerstone of the organisation. Even without salary, he spent more of his time volunteering on the African culture that he loves and cares for.

Over the years, Oladimeji has attracted hundreds of volunteers to run arts and culture activities, performances, and workshops. These sessions help people understand Britain’s varied multicultural society, and range from African cookery, drama and music to ethnic literacy and mask making.

Oladimeji has taken these classes and performances to pupils in 500 schools around the UK to date. Under Oladimeji’s guidance the Osun Foundation has collaborated with organisations such as the famous Nigerian Lamidi Ayankunle’s Yoruba Bata Ensemble and Ayan Agalu Cultural Troupe as well as Gong Beats and Segun Adefila’s Crown Troupe.

He has also worked with many Nigerian Artists like Emmanuel Josiah, Peter Badejo, Kayode Idris, Stanley Ifamene, Sunkanmi Odunaike, Abu Usman, Felix Ologbosere, Clement Ule and Bisi Ogunbadejo. On several occasions, he has also collaborated with many Ghanaian Artists and culturl groups among who are Martins Hanson and Alfons Hanson. Osun Foundation have staged series of cultural performances in different venues and events all over Britain including the Queen’s Jubilee and Common Wealth Games as well as some parts of Europe and in United States.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the opportunity to bring African arts & culture to so many people – of all ages – over the past 20 years”, he said..

He added:”When we started, many arts organisations and companies operating in the Voluntary sector found it a challenge to continue to deliver quality services, with reduced resources.

He claimed he incorporated volunteers into the day to day activities of the organisation and this was where his greatest challenge stemmed from” He pledged that Osun Foundation would remain committed to working with people of all ages and backgrounds in future.

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